SALT LAKE CITY — One of the two spine specialists who performed Friday's surgery on Dwight Howard's back said the All-NBA center is "resting comfortably" after an "uneventful" procedure and will begin a walking program Saturday morning and a core-stabilization program in about three weeks.

That statement was released to the Orlando Sentinel by Howard's manager, Kevin Samples.

It said:

"Dwight Howard had surgery Friday, April 20, at Marina del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles. He had a lumbar disk herniation with extruded fragments that were removed with a microscopic lumbar discectomy by surgeons Robert G. Watkins Sr. and Robert G. Watkins Jr. The surgery was uneventful and Dwight is resting comfortably. He'll begin his post-op walking program in the morning. More formal core stabilization will begin in three weeks. The timing of his return to basketball will depend on his response to the rehabilitation program. We anticipate a full recovery."